23-06-1972

Zinedine Zidane's Birthday

Good With His Head

As there’s some kind of footballing hoo-hah taking place in France at the moment, lets take a moment to celebrate one of its finest exponents who was born on this day. Sebastian Squillaci. No, I’m kidding of course. I was referring to Zinedine Yazid Zidane, widely regarded as one of the best that the game has seen. Ever. Zizou won the La Liga title, the UEFA Champions League, two Serie A league championships, the Intercontinental Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the World Cup with France.

In the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, he was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years. Not too shabby. After spells at Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid he received the Golden Ball for player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup, even after he was sent off for head-butting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in spectacular fashion. It was pretty much his last act as a professional footballer. But we still love him anyway.